Automatic train-pipe coupling



July 7, 1925.

W. B. STURGES AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed Oct. l0, 1921 lil Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM B. sTURGEs, or HAzLEWoonLOUIsIANA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE c'oUrLINe.

Application led October 10, 1921. Serial No. 506,699.

To all whom concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. STURGns,

I-Iazlewood, in the parish of St. Landry and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the vart, Vto which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

The present invention relates to improvements in automatic train pipe couplings and has for an object to provide an improved automatic train pipe aircoupling in which the coupling of the pipes will be effectedV automatically and will be held in air-tight tension during the time the cars are coupled, but which will permit of the pipes being readily separated also automatically when the cars are iin-coupled and move apart. j

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive construction consisting of two parts adapted to guide the pipes together upon the movement of cars toward one another and in whichV strong spring pressure will act to hold the parts in a yielding though leak-tight engagement.

lVit-h the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claim appended hereto.

In the dra-wings, wherein like symbols refer tolike or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side view of an automatic coupling construction according to the present invention and shown separated;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line y2 2 in Fig. 1, but with parts coupled;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4--4 also in Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the draw- G ings, wherein only a single embodiment f the invention is shown, 1 designates a bell or conical collector having a shank part 2 screw threaded exteriorly to receive the interior threads at one side of a coupling collar 3 which also engages, as by screw threading, one of the train pipe sections 4. A suitable number of gaskets or Washers 5 are placed between the adjacent ends of the tight joint at this point. a citizen of the United States, residing at i gatherer cone 1 and pipe 4 to provide a leak- In the pipe 4 is a plunger 6 ciprocate freely therein and having longiedgerto permit the passage of air from one side to the other of the plunger. plunger 6 is movedoutwardly under the influence of a coil spring 8 which bears directly upon the plunger at one end. and against an adjusting screw 9 at its other end Vwhich is threaded into a-coupling collar 10 threaded or otherwise removably secured to the other .end of the pipe 4.

In a similar manner the adjacent end of Vt-he other car to be coupled 1 carries a pipe l11 in which is slidably mounted an `extension j pipe 12 having its outer end left open and adapted to seat againstra plate 13 on theforward end of the plunger 6, which likewise is provided with channels as shown to register withy the channels 7 in the plunger. The extension pipe 12 is adapted outer end of thepipe 11 and snugly though slidably receives the extension pipe 12, suitable wasliers 16 being interposed ybetween the nut and the end of the pipe 11, thus serving to prevent any leakage. The inner end of the pipe 12 is fitted in a plunger 17 which reciprocates within the pipe 11`and is urged forwardly by coil spring 18 adjustable by a threaded nut 19 movable back and forth in the coupling collar 2O which is carried on the inner end of said pipe 11.

Channels 21 are provided longitudinally in the outer edge of the plunger 17 to permit of passage of the air to opposite sides of the plunger in the pipe 11, and perfora.

tions 22 in any suitable number are disposed about the pipe 12 just forwardly of the pliuiger to set up a communication between the interior of such extension pipe 12 and the annular space surrounding the extension pipe 12 within the pipell.

In the operation of the device, the coil springs 8 and 18 normally hold the plungers outwardly for instance in theA condition:

shown in Figpl. If desired, vthe plunger 17 The nace to 14e- Ptudinally disposed channels 7 on its outer may be moved so far forward as to abut.

plunger 6. As; the cars; are moved togetherV Vboth plun-gers 6 and 17 will be shifted i`nwardly,compressing their coil springs and causing the pipesl to seat. yieldably lyetY tightly, the plungers being moved so as to permit athrough vcommunication between the pipes Vof the adjacent'cars. Y,

As soon as the cars are moved'apart, the

extension pipe 121wil-l be withdrawnn fromv the ppesection 4 automatically and without necessity ofa, hand manipulationof a.

brakeman. The coilspr-ings will return the parts to. normal; positiony where they will re.- main-'untilthe necessity for a fur-ther1L coupling for cars occurs. v

It will'beappreciated from theA foregoing that Il have provided an extremelysimple construction for carrying out the automatic coupling Vof train pipe sections by themere movement together of the pipe and cars` and in which no attention need begiven: on thel part of the trai-n'crew.

It is Obvious that, various changes and modifications may be madeV in the details of construction and design of the above specilically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and' modifications being restrictedonly by the scope of they following claim.

Wfliat is claimed is :v K

An automatic train pipe coupling comprising a pair of opposed trainpipes,a plunger mounted in each pipe, springs in the inner ends of said pipes bearing against the respective plunger-s for normally urging the same toward the outer ends `of the pipes, a bell mouth carried upon onepipe, a tube Vmounted on the plunger' ofthe other pipe and adapted to entersaid bell and the pipe thereof and detachably enga-ge the other plunger, said bell having an inwardly ,facing stopshoulder at. its inner end, packing arranged against said stop shoulder, said packing:V being adapted to receive the `adjacent plunger when the latter is moved outwardly byits; spring# to close said pipe, a head on `the outer'end of the other'pipe-adapted to enter said bell mouth and having an 'inwardly facing stop, shoulder, packingv against said stopv shoulder ofthe head for sealing the .tube in its, pipe., the adjacent plungerv being adapted to seat againstvsaid packing under tension of its spring and for `sealing the otherpipe, said tube having openings near itsl opposite Vends for intercommunicating the tube with said pipes.

' v WILLIAM B. STUBGES-, 

